An IC-rated airtight luminaire including a housing divided on a vertical plane to form two housing portions releasably coupled to one another to form an open cylindrical lower portion, a heat sink upper housing portion, and a heat conducting lamp assembly adjustment track enclosed within the housing. Disposed within the housing are heat sink walls slidably capturing a slide portion of a lamp assembly. A lamp holder integral with the slide bar includes a lens that directs a beam of light through an opening in a ceiling substrate in which the housing is installed, and an expansion ring rotatingly disposed around the open cylindrical lower portion of the housing engages and secures the housing in a ceiling substrate while also permitting the housing to freely turn within the expansion ring so as to allow adjustment of a beam of light directed from the lamp assembly.
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1. An IC-rated airtight luminaire, comprising:
a housing divided on a vertical plane to form a first housing portion and a second housing portion, said first and second housing portions releasably coupled to one another to form an open cylindrical lower portion, a heat sink upper housing portion, and a heat conducting lamp assembly adjustment track enclosed within said housing and including first and second planar heat sink walls disposed in said first and second housing portions, respectively;
a lamp assembly slidably coupled to said lamp assembly adjustment track, said lamp assembly including a heat conducting slide bar slidably captured between said first and second planar heat sink walls, a lamp holder, and a lens which directs a beam of light through an opening in a wall or ceiling substrate in which said housing is installed; and
an expansion ring rotatingly disposed around said open cylindrical lower portion, wherein said expansion ring engages and secures said housing in a wall or ceiling substrate while also permitting said housing to freely turn within said expansion ring so as to allow adjustment of a beam of light directed from said lamp assembly.
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Not applicable. The present application is an original and first-filed United States Non-Provisional (Utility) Patent Application.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates most generally to lighting apparatus, and more particularly to recessed lighting, and still more particularly to an IC-rated and airtight recessed light housings.
Background Discussion
Recessed lighting may be installed at the time of construction prior to ceiling installation or as part of a remodel job after ceiling installation. In either case, a portion of the recessed lighting fixture generally occupies a space partly through the ceiling material, but the principal portion occupies a space above the plane of the ceiling substrate backside. Remodel recessed lighting involves creating a hole for the light housing, connecting the lamp portion of the light to a power source, and securing the housing within the hole, typically with bar hangers that fasten to framing members or with spring-based clamps that sandwich the ceiling substrate between a flange or ring circumscribing the housing.
As is well known, lamps, whether illuminated using low energy LED or conventional incandescent lamp sources, create and radiate considerable heat. Thus, housings have been devised to absorb and dissipate heat and, if not airtight, to allow heated air to escape the housing at a safe rate and in predetermined amounts, not to exceed specified upper limits. Such limits are defined and imposed by codes and regulations promulgated for safety and are published for industry review and compliance by standards organizations, such as the International Electrotechnical Commission and ASTM International, and safety and certification companies for electrical devices and components, such as UL LLC, the OSHA NRTL laboratories.
The most pertinent standards for the present invention can be found embodied in ASTM e283, which governs rate of air leakage through windows, curtain walls, and doors; IEC 60598-1:2014, which specifies general requirements for luminaires, incorporating electric light sources for operation from supply voltages up to 1,000 V, and sets standards for luminaires suitable for direct mounting in or on normally flammable surfaces when thermally insulating material may cover the luminaire; and UL 1598, which sets safety standards for luminaires. The IEC 60598 separates luminaires into two classes: (1) those for recessing into ceilings having thermal insulating material covering the luminaire (IC-rated); and (2) those for recessing into ceilings but not suitable for covering with thermal insulating material (non-IC-rated).
Under the applicable standards identified above, a light fixture may be rated for direct contact with insulation, and thus may bear an “IC” rating, only if it is approved for zero clearance insulation cover by an OSHA NRTL laboratory,” such as UL. Because many homes have blown cellulose insulation covering light fixtures, an IC rating is essential for the safe use of recessed lighting. Where a non-IC light fixture is installed in a space (typically an attic or other space above a ceiling) that contains insulation, at least 3 inches of clearance must be provided on all sides of the luminaire.
A certified air tight luminaire is generally defined under the standards as one showing air leakage less than 2.0 CFM at 75 Pascals when tested in accordance with the ASTM E283 testing method. More colloquially, airtight means that the luminaire housing will not allow air to escape into the ceiling or attic space above the ceiling. This reduces heat loss and cool air loss.
Because conduction is a more efficient method of heat transfer than convection, it would be advantageous to include a lamp assembly that comprises the structures most directly and significantly heated in a recessed lighting luminaire, it would be advantageous to facilitate heat flow from the heat source as directly to the heat sink as possible. A solid-to-solid contact from lamp assembly components to a conductor also in solid-to-solid contact with the heat sink would be advantageous.
At present, there are no known IC-rated, certified airtight luminaires having a lamp assembly in direct physical contact with the housing, wherein the housing and heat sink assembly are also integrally formed, such that the housing functions as both the mounting structure for the lamp assembly and the heat sink so as to maximize heat flow through and away from the luminaire.
Further, known prior art luminaires having means for adjusting the angle of the illumination source either affix the lamp holder assembly to the trim components of the luminaire, or entail changing the angle of the luminaire housing, thereby requiring that the housing tip relative to the plane of the upper surface of the ceiling, and thereby render it at least impracticable to use in an insulated space or in ceiling substrates of any substantial thickness, or configure the assembly with at least a portion of the light engine disposed below the ceiling plane.
Still further, known IC-rated airtight luminaires require a double shroud to achieve the ratings and/or to provide gimbal ring type light adjustment, which is the only kind provided that has the feature wherein the light engine is entirely recessed from the plane of the ceiling. Moreover, the outer shroud is often larger than the ceiling opening, requiring that the luminaire be installed prior to ceiling installation.
The present invention is an IC-rated, certified airtight luminaire that maximizes heat transfer from the lamp assembly to the heat sink and then out to surrounding atmosphere.
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an IC-rated and airtight lighting fixture installed from below a ceiling (a remodel-type housing) that does not require a second shroud.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a three piece luminaire that functions as a housing, heat sink, and lamp module.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a luminaire that rotates about a horizontal plane but does not rotate on any vertical plane, and therefore may be installed in a ceiling substrate of any thickness.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a luminaire having a mounting frame with a clamp design that enables attachment to a ceiling substrate of any thickness.
Another objection of the present invention is to provide a luminaire having a light engine entirely recessed above the ceiling plane.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a luminaire using trim plates secured by neodymium magnets.
The foregoing summary broadly sets out the more important features of the present invention so that the detailed description that follows may be better understood, and so that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
Referring to
The power assembly includes an LED driver 102 enclosed in an inline junction box 104 and covered by a junction box cover 106 having one or more knockouts 108. A flexible wire conduit 110 is coupled at one terminal end to the junction box cover using an electrical metallic tubing (EMT) connector 112 secured by an EMT nut 114. At a second end the flexible wire conduit terminates in a conduit swivel 116, which is pivotally attached to the center of the top of the luminaire housing in a manner described in detail below. The conduit swivel includes a cylindrical coupler 117 having a medial raised ring 119. Conductors (leads in a woven or braded insulating sheath, not shown) pass from the LED driver through the conduit to provide power to the lamp assembly. A support cable 118 may be provided for additional strength.
The luminaire next comprises a lamp assembly 200, which, in the most general terms, includes a lamp holder 202, a reflective conductor pin plate 204, a lens retainer 206, a total internal reflection (TIR) lens 208, and a lamp ring 210 which affixes to the lamp holder 202 to secure lamp elements 204 through 208 within the lamp holder body 212, which is a cup-shaped aluminum member having cooling fins 214. The lamp holder body is integrally formed with a heat conducting slide bar 216 having inwardly angled sides 218, 220, and two slide pin through holes 222, 224 for passage of slide pins 226, 228. A spring ball plunger 230 disposed in a recess or cup 232 maintains spacing between the slide bar and the opposing planar interior walls 404, 406 of the housing shell when assembled. The slide bar is secured in place at a desired tilt with a wedge 231 disposed in a recess 233 in the slide bar. The wedge can be urged against a heat sink wall in the housing above the slide pin track when a setscrew 235 is tightened into an inclined ramp on the lower portion 237 of the wedge. With this configuration, a user may reach into the open lower portion of the housing, loosen the setscrew, and move the lamp holder assembly to the desired angle, and then secure it in place simply by tightening the setscrew. The range of adjustment is physically constrained by the angled sides 218, 220 of the slide bar, which engage the interior side 305 of the housing shell 304 (esp. as shown in
The slide bar also includes a primary heat conducting flat side 234 and a contoured side 236, the latter including a cable stress relief channel 238 defined by a curved space between a first pin projection 240 for a slide pin 228, and a spring ball plunger boss 242 for the spring ball plunger cup 232. A second pin projection 244 may be provided for the other slide pin 226.
The housing 300 includes two housing halves or shells 302, 304, divided on a vertical plane to form semi-cylindrical bottom portions 306, 308, which combine to form a cylindrical bottom portion of the housing, and configured with any of a number of suitable shapes in an respective upper portions 310, 312, though shape continuity with the cylindrical lower portion is preferred. The two halves 302, 304, may be symmetrical and mirror images of one another, and include threaded mounting bosses 314, 316, 318, 320, and complementary through holes 322, 324, 326, 328, so that fasteners 330, 332, 334, 336 can be passed through the through hole in one half and threadably connected to the corresponding mounting boss in the other half, in a manner well known in the art.
The upper portions of the respective housing halves are configured to function as a heat sink and include extended surfaces, preferably fins 338, 340, which increase the surface area available for heat transfer.
At the lower edge 342, 344 of the bottom portions 306, 308, a semicircular channel 346, 348, becomes a continuous circumferential channel when the halves are fastened to together.
An expansion ring 350 fits around the cylindrical lower portion of the housing and is retained in place with retainer clips 352 that pass through apertures in the expansion ring and slidingly fit into the circumferential channel formed by semicircular channels 346, 348.
The expansion ring includes a cylindrical collar portion 354 having a plurality of evenly spaced apart ports 356 into each of which a laterally adjustable expansion clamp 358 is disposed. A circumferential flange 360 extends around the expansion ring to form a lower end. The expansion clamps are arcuate bars having exterior surface features 361, such as teeth, nubs, pins, or ribs, which provide bite when engaging a ceiling substrate surface CS.
On the interior side 362 of each of the expansion clamps, an upwardly angled ramp or wedge 364 is engaged by a pointed setscrew 366 disposed in a threaded hole 368, such that tightening the setscrew drives the expansion clamp outwardly and into the ceiling substrate material (see
The expansion ring further includes spaced apart neodymium magnets 378, preferably cylindrical, set into holes 380 disposed around the lower edge 382 of the expansion ring 350.
Apertures 382 spaced around the expansion ring collar portion 354 accommodate the retainer clips which secure and stabilize the expansion ring around the circumferential channel created by channels 346, 348. An annular swivel ring 384 is placed on an interior ledge 386 in the expansion ring and is disposed between the lower edge 388, 390 of the housing halves 302, 304 and the expansion ring ledge 386. Accordingly, while the expansion ring is retained in place with retainer clips disposed in the circumferential channel surrounding the lower portion of the housing, the joined halves still swivel freely within the expansion ring. Free rotation of the housing within the expansion ring is prevented by set screws 392, 394, tightened through screw bosses 396, 398 molded into the interior sides 400, 402, of the housing halves 302, 304.
The heat sink upper portions of the housing halves each include a heat conducting planar wall 404, 406. Cut into each wall is a track 408, 410, which oppose one another when the housing halves are approximated and joined. When the halves are clamped together, the walls sandwich the heat conducting slide bar 216 of the lamp holder assembly 200, and the slide pins 226, 228 are slidingly disposed through the slide bar and into the opposing tracks 408, 410. The spacing between the planar walls of the housing halves provides an incidental clearance, such that spring ball plunger 230 is biased against one of the planar walls to urge the heat conducting flat side 234 of the slide bar 216 against the opposing planar walls, either 404 or 406. The contoured portion of the slide bar is thus closely approximated to the other heat sink wall. The slide bar and heat sink walls of the housing halves are preferably fabricated of materials having identical or very nearly identical thermal coefficients, such that there is an efficient conductive transfer of heat from the lamp assembly to the heat sink as the lamp assembly is heated by the powered lamp. Further, the slide bar is sized such that its angled sides 218, 220 are spaced apart from the interior sides of the housing. Thus, when moved through the range defined by the tracks 408, 410 into which the slide pins are disposed, the light may be moved smoothly through a predefined range to provide approximately 0-35 degrees of tilt.
Further, and referring now to both
The top of each housing half 302, 304, includes a semi-cylindrical notch, 412, 414 having a medial channel 416, 418, which when the halves are joined creates the center cylindrical hole into which the coupling 117 of the conduit swivel 116 is pivotally disposed. The continuous medial channels capture the medial ring 119 of the coupling, allowing free rotation within the opening but which prevent excursion of the conduit swivel, thereby preventing electrical wires disposed through the conduit swivel from twisting or otherwise being put under strain. A gasket prevents any air from leaking through the cylindrical hole. When the free rotation of the housing within the expansion ring is combined with the tilting feature of the lamp assembly, the 35 degrees of vertical tilt is provided over a rotational range of 360 degrees.
Finishing the luminaire for positioning on the ceiling plane CP is a trim assembly, including a square or round trim plate 500, 510, respectively, each having a recess 502, into which the flange portion 360 of the expansion ring rests. The trim plate is either entirely ferromagnetic or includes ferromagnetic portions 504 or even magnets, polarized with respect to the magnets 378 disposed in the expansion ring. Thus, the trim plate is held in place entirely by magnets alone, making removal simply a matter of gently prying it apart from the flange portion of the expansion ring exposed under the ceiling.
An optional trim plate lens 506 may be placed over the trim plate opening if more diffused light is desired.
Thus, from the foregoing it is seen that in an embodiment, and in a most essential aspect, the IC-rated airtight luminaire of the present invention includes a housing divided on a vertical plane to form two housing portions releasably coupled to one another to form an open cylindrical lower portion, a heat sink upper housing portion, and a heat conducting lamp assembly adjustment track enclosed within the housing. Disposed within the housing are heat sink walls slidably capturing a slide portion of a lamp assembly. A lamp holder integral with the slide bar includes a lens that directs a beam of light through an opening in a ceiling substrate in which the housing is installed, and an expansion ring rotatingly disposed around the open cylindrical lower portion of the housing engages and secures the housing in a ceiling substrate while also permitting the housing to freely turn within the expansion ring so as to allow adjustment of a beam of light directed from the lamp assembly.
The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of this invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, dimensional relationships, and operation shown and described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed, as suitable, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like.
Therefore, the above description and illustrations should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.
Cross, Gary, Visser, Joel, Gutting, David
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Dec 03 2015 | VISSER, JOEL | Number Eight Lighting Company | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 037379 | /0591 | |
Dec 03 2015 | CROSS, GARY | Number Eight Lighting Company | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 037379 | /0591 | |
Dec 03 2015 | GUTTING, DAVID | Number Eight Lighting Company | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 037379 | /0591 | |
Dec 29 2015 | Number Eight Lighting Company | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / |
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